Born in Portland to Abe and Ruthella Popick, Al took to basketball early, and after playing at Lincoln HS in Portland, went on to play at the University of Oregon. He was drafted into the U.S. Army and was stationed in Guam during World War 2. After the war, he returned to UO and after graduating, signed with the Portland Indians on March 12, 1948, as the team was heading towards the playoffs. He would then referee high school basketball games while working as a clothing salesman. and later owning his own clothing shop. Popick was also an avid tennis player and player well into his 70's. He died of a heart attack in 2009.

Al married Janet Howe (1927-1988) in 1947 and they had two daughters and a son.